The butler has always been on the lookout for the house’s owner, who gives severe punishment with a smile.

Peyton was generous to those who faithfully did their part but merciless toward those who were negligent. Anyone working in this house was also accustomed to seeing that face suddenly turn blue. In front of him, everyone had no choice but to be careful about their behavior.

The butler, who had a harmless face to hide the flattery, responded to him.

“I’m sure the Duke will accept the master’s offer.”

“Of course. Have you ever seen me fail?”

“Of course, I have not.”

Peyton has never been frustrated by what went wrong, whether in business or his personal life. It always worked out as he wanted. He was full of talent and the environment around him was supportive enough.

Peyton was very pleased that today’s position was in a face-to-face format.

Since his parents were abroad, he had no choice but to go to the meeting to determine the marriage’s conditions. Edith also came alone because her situation was not going well, so it was good.

‘Marriage is no different than business. Surely Edith didn’t try to break it on the first meeting.’

The walk toward the study to carefully examine the terms of the transaction was light.

He also had the confidence to seduce her personally.

Everyone admired his radiant appearance in society, and he was not negligent in cultivating his body. He was also praised as the ‘best companion’ on the market.

After all, the only man worthy of such a title is himself.

As he walked past, he found a mirror and looked at every aspect of his facial features to see if there were any missing. There seemed to be no shortage to capture Edith.

Peyton flicked his smooth chin and scored his own as a passing point.

❋ ❋ ❋

“So…”

With his axed eyes, Clyde glared at her as if he were going to chop her into pieces.

“I sent you home to get some rest, and in the meantime, you talked about marriage?”

Edith flinched under bloody momentum. Her slender shoulders became as round as the cushion.

His fingers tapping on the desk made an annoying, rattling sound. Clyde’s blood pressure seemed to rise by one in line with the regularly repeated rhythm.

His sharp fingernails scratched the top of his desk instantly.

“I’m asking. Did you get marriage’s offer?”

“Yes? Yes….”

Edith couldn’t understand what she had done wrong.

She was standing across the Crown Prince’s desk with a wronged face.

She was called straight to the office as soon as she came to work. He knew about Edith’s marriage talk. The words had been told through people who were fast with rumors.

Clyde, with a seething face, grabbed her like a rat.

She was completely disheartened by being scolded over what had happened during her last vacation. She put her hands on her belly button like a servant being reprimanded and told all the stories of her private marriage talk like a public report.

The excuse was plausible. As a servant in charge of heavy responsibility, she had to share things outside of work with Clyde as well.

But instead of sharing things, he seemed like a jealous boyfriend.

“You said it was Peyton of the Grayves family? What did you two talk about together?”

It seemed like she had seen the lines a lot somewhere.

Dramas, movies, and novels. That was a typical comment of a jealous man in a story media.

Should she pretend she didn’t know? However, Clyde’s attitude has been extraordinary these days. It felt like the switch of obsession had been turned on for her.

She had been feeling this way. Clyde’s attitude toward her seemed vague and ambiguous.

But the last time she asked if he liked her, he answered that he would not ask her to be the Crown Princess. Did he think of her as a particularly interesting person to play with? She tried to add various reasons other than affection.

However, today he crossed the line no matter how much she looked at it. To be honest, Clyde often crossed the line.

She couldn’t be like this. She would have to check again.

Edith made up her mind and spat the words through her dry throat.

“Your Highness, by any chance…. Are you interested in my marriage?”

Rather than directly mentioning emotions, she tried to change the expression differently.

“Of course I’m interested.”

He tried to get away with it.

The chic yet quick answer implies that it was necessary for him to know the marriage of one’s subordinates as a direct superior.

He didn’t try a relationship, he didn’t seem to play a game either. What’s wrong with Clyde? It appeared that his unidentified obsession should be made clear.

She struggled to choose her words differently for a moment. However, no matter how she asked, there was no solution if he decided just to play along.

An uncomfortable relationship would only make each other difficult.

Determined to sort out their relationship, this time she hit the nail on the head and asked.

“It’s not just about interest, I’m wondering if by any chance that Your Highness will take the marriage’s oath with me.”

This question might seem like a flippant attitude.

She couldn’t help it. Clyde was trying to get away with it.

Still, she expected that there would be no reactions such as ‘How dare you’ or ‘seriously.’ They had used the same bed before, so she wouldn’t be nervous anymore.

As they confronted each other, sweat slowly soaked in the hands that neatly gathered in front of her dress.

She got nervous belatedly only after she had done that.

Clyde’s handsome face which was like a work of art was as hard as a stone. Even his fingers and wrist stopped moving. He was in a bad mood otherwise and had a completely straight face.

His gaze was as cold as in the middle of winter. Just by looking at his outward expression, It was difficult to know whether he was offended by his subordinates or whether the volcano of jealousy was about to burst.

He even changed her name and way of speaking and acted sternly.

“Sir Ketzmorris.”

The low-pitched voice was proof of an uncomfortable inner feeling.

She didn’t think she had ever been called by her last name since the first day she met him. It was kind of scary. She suddenly felt a sense of distance from Clyde, Edith’s back tightened as she stood upright.

“Pardon? Ah…. Please tell me, Your Highness.”

Like a wandering beast, he slowly opened his mouth.

Unexpectedly, he began to explain in detail with dignity. Clyde, who enjoyed mischievous pranks, had a look she had never seen.

“The imperial family’s marriage cannot be so easily spoken of. If I bring someone, they will be the most precious and the only person I need in the imperial family.”

That was true, and she knew it.

However, as it was delivered through Clyde’s mouth, the meaning came to her heavily.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“The marriage proposal from Crown Prince Clyde is something that can only be avoided by death. Whether they like it or not. Or even if they hate me, they have to be the Crown Princess.”

Edith’s mind flashed as the feeling of being in a relationship disappeared. She became mute and kept her head down.

Once the Crown Prince mentions a marriage offer, they must hold a national marriage irrevocably. There is no rejection. This is because they would ascend to the position of the Crown Princess by the will of the supreme emperor.

If they really wanted to refuse the marriage, the only way they could choose at best was to run away at night. All that remains is how they hide in a remote wall and hide their identity for the rest of their life.

It was difficult to survive once they discovered after hiding in poverty. It was bound to be a life driven to the end as a fugitive.

Clyde’s cold expression was even sad at first glance.

“Wishing to take someone you like as a wife while you’re at the reign… maybe it’s my stupid greed. But at the least, I don’t want to live in hate with someone who’s going to mix flesh in one bed and have a baby.”

That was also a perfectly possible situation.

Historically, only a handful of emperors had been on good terms with the empress. Many couples sat side by side only in public, and there were many people who couldn’t even stand that.

“I couldn’t understand Your Highness’ deepest wishes.”

She couldn’t help but feel very sorry.

He sighed lightly.

“No. Edith can think that way. I’d appreciate it if you could just remember that my situation is not as easy as it seems.”

By calling her Edith again instead of Ketzmorris ended the story that was hard to bring up. As he got up from his seat and looked out the window, the agony he had to hide inside could be seen through his back.

While Clyde was immersed in his sentiments, she recalled what she had heard.

Currently, no one has been considered as a candidate for the Crown Princess. Rumor has it that the Crown Prince is so indifferent, but if it was because he was really not interested, he could look for the other person based on conditions.

However, she seemed to understand why he was not in a hurry to marry even though he was forced by the people around him. Clyde was looking for a Crown Princess to share his heart with.

‘Then maybe… Is it for the same reason that you were involved with me?’

Should she regard it as something Clyde couldn’t tamper with until she opened her heart first?

Looking at his bitter backside, Edith had an unbelievable imagination.

The situation was full of anger at her marriage talk, but he couldn’t even be jealous. It was a position where one couldn’t just break up the marriage and urge her to come. The Crown Prince’s heavy responsibility was immaculate.

‘Is Clyde not saying anything because he thinks I don’t like it? Are you afraid I’ll be forced to sit on the throne and can’t refuse it?’

Would Clyde have guessed that she wouldn’t want to accept his proposal? If so, he saw precisely what Edith was thinking.

If the Crown Prince’s wedding proposal were to be obtained right away, she would start thinking about how to avoid that. 

She didn’t hate Clyde, but she didn’t give her heart enough to overcome unknown risks and difficulties. Moreover, the future is not even bright when she thinks of the original novel.

When she remembered the passage of his bloody purge, Edith woke up with fear. She wasn’t even sure she had the ability to change that moment.

How about Adrian? The most obvious companion to save Clyde is Adrian, the main sub.

She didn’t even have a desire for a career in politics nor an ambition to rise.

Did she ever get a glimpse of her inner feelings?

Of course, it was all groundless delusions.

Clyde could just enjoy flirting with her. Like having fun staying in one space until late at night.

He could do that even if she didn’t like it.

She whispered as she took a step back.

“The companion Clyde wishes for…. I hope you can find it.”

“Did I find it or did I miss it? I don’t know yet.”

He turned back halfway and looked at Edith with a dim gaze.

“I guess I’m not good enough for that person. Seeing that person is not easily captured.”

Clyde never confessed who he was referring to.

His intentions were still vague after a brief peek. He didn’t even reveal the person’s identity he wanted to capture. These days, it has been difficult to read his mind just by being friendly to Edith.

He seemed to be much more troubled than he appeared.